'Ace in the Hole' is a poker-derived idiom referring to a hidden
advantage, secret resource, or concealed asset that is strategically kept in reserve until the optimal
moment for deployment, when revealing it will provide maximum benefit or ensure success in a
competitive or uncertain situation. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary's comprehensive
analysis of gambling terminology in American English, this expression originated in stud poker games
where players receive some cards face-up (visible to all) and others face-down (hole cards visible
only to the player), with an ace dealt face-down representing a powerful hidden advantage that
opponents cannot see or account for in their strategic planning. The phrase first appeared in American
English in the late 19th century during the poker boom and quickly expanded beyond gambling contexts
to describe any secret weapon, backup plan, or concealed advantage in business negotiations, political
campaigns, legal strategies, competitive sports, or personal relationships. Strategic planning
research published in business and military strategy journals emphasizes that maintaining reserves and
concealed capabilities provides crucial advantages in competitive environments, allowing strategic
flexibility and the element of surprise. The Cambridge Dictionary notes that calling something your
'ace in the hole' suggests confidence in ultimate success because of this hidden advantage, even when
current circumstances appear challenging or uncertain. Game theory research demonstrates that
information asymmetry—where one party knows something that others don't—creates strategic advantages
that can decisively influence outcomes. The phrase has become so embedded in American English that
it's routinely used in contexts far removed from poker: politicians describing surprise campaign
endorsements, businesses holding proprietary technologies in reserve, or individuals maintaining
backup options for important decisions, all representing the universal human strategy of keeping
advantageous resources hidden until the moment when they can provide maximum impact. Sources: Etymology Online
- Ace in the Hole Origin, Merriam-Webster - Poker Terms.
How to Solve Frame Games
Frame Games are visual word puzzles created by famous puzzle author Terry Stickels. In
these puzzles,
words or phrases are arranged within a "frame" in a way that represents a common saying, phrase,
quote, movie title, trivia fact, or concept.
The key to solving Frame Games is to pay attention to:
Position: Where words are placed (top, bottom, inside, outside, etc.)
Size: How big or small the text appears
Arrangement: How words relate to each other spatially
Repetition: Words that appear multiple times
Direction: Text that may be upside down, backwards, or diagonal
Within 6 guesses, solve the common phrase or saying the puzzle above
represents- Here are some tips:
Guesses: You have 6 tries to solve the puzzle phrase.
Inputs: Type in an entire phrase each time, and colored feedback for your guess
will indicate correct letters and their positions.
Green letters: Indicates correct letters in the correct position.
Yellow letters: Indicates correct letters but in the wrong position.
Grey letters: Indicates incorrect letters.
Need Hint? button When clicked, will show helpful clues.
See Answer... button When clicked, will show the correct answer.